Suspect tries to flee from police twice during arrest

LATHROP – Frank Padilla, Jr., 45, is facing five felony charges following a routine patrol stop on Tuesday. The incident started as a report about a suspicious person inside the mobile home park located in the 15000 block of North Harlan Road.

When the Lathrop deputies stopped the suspect, they saw a visible pocketknife attached to his waist band. After they took away the knife from him, the deputies requested an additional backup unit.

But while waiting for the backup to arrive, the suspect twice tried to run away from the police before he was eventually tackled to the ground and taken into custody. The first time he attempted to flee, he stopped at a point about 100 yards from the authorities and took on a “fighting stance.” In pursuit, the police were able to grab onto his large black sweatshirt. But the man slipped out of his sweatshirt and made another attempt to run. This time, the police were able to take him down to the ground. Padilla was then taken into custody without further incident.

When the deputies asked him why he tried to flee, the suspect explained it was because “he had some stuff on him.” The stuff later turned out to be methamphetamine, burglary tools, drug paraphernalia, and prescription pills that were not prescribed to him.

At the San Joaquin County Jail where he was transported, the white crystal substance found in the suspect’s possession was “tested presumptive positive” for methamphetamine with a gross weight of 3.7 grams.

Padilla was booked into county jail and is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance without prescription, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a knife, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer during an arrest.